Deafness in Dogs

Not only humans are affected by deafness; dogs are also. Hearing is important for dogs for their own social interaction, and to make them more enjoyable companions. It is also vital for working dogs to hear well so they can do their various jobs effectively. Dogs who are deaf in one ear have difficulty localizing sound, which may affect their performance as a watch dog, bird dog, or sheepdog.

Hearing loss in dogs is far more widespread than veterinarians used to believe and is much more common than the general public realizes. In early studies, before canine hearing evaluation was so advanced, it was thought that one in 3,000 puppies had congenital deafness. However, with the increased sophistication of audiological evaluation techniques, such as auditory brainstem response (ABR), we now know that the true incidence is much higher. Hearing can be assessed on dogs rather easily these days with the use of ABR and sedation so it is much easier to assess these animals to determine the extent of their hearing impairment. In the old days, one conducted visual reinforcement audiometry or VRA and play audiometry with the animals to assess their hearing, and assessment was more subjective, which led to errors in the evaluation process. Thanks to evoked potential evaluations we have a better picture as to the true nature of canine hearing loss.

The genetic predisposition for deafness is a serious health problem for Dalmatians. Early breeders did not recognize their deafness, so the breed was thought to be unintelligent. Even after recognizing the problem as a genetic fault, breeders did not understand the dogs’ nature and, thus, deafness in Dalmatians continues to be a frequent problem. While approximately 70% of Dalmatians are born with normal hearing, some of these puppies will become deaf after a few weeks (Mair 1972; Johnssonet al.1973). The disease that creates the deafness may affect one or both ears. The dogs with normal hearing in one ear are likely to be able to live a normal life. But, as in humans, those animals that are deaf in both ears are significantly handicapped. In the UK study, by Wood & Lakhani (1997), which evaluated 4,500 Dalmatians, 21% had congenital hearing loss. Of these, approximately two-thirds were deaf in one ear (unilateral) and one-third were deaf in both ears (bilateral). It has also been established that Dalmatians with blue eyes are more likely to be deaf.

While deafness appears to be most prevalent among Dalmatians, other breeds of dog also have issues with their hearing. Researchers have discovered that deafness in albino andpiebaldanimals is caused by the absence of mature melanocytesin the inner ear, which may affect one or both ears. The condition is also common in other canine breeds that share a genetic propensity for light pigmentation. These include, but are not limited toBull Terriers,Dogo Argentinos,Poodles,Boxers,Border ColliesandGreat Danes. The chart by Strain (1999) provides an indication of the incidence of deafness in various breeds where it is common, but it does not have sufficient subject data to present these percentages as conclusive evidence of the frequency of deafness in these breeds.

How To Tell If Your Dog May Be Deaf

The following are general signs that a dog may be deaf or suffering some form of hearing loss:

The dog does not know if you’re in the room until you physically touch them or they see you.

The dog turns the wrong way when you call them.

No response to outside stimuli, such as doorbell ringing or other dogs barking.

Head shaking

No response or confusing to familiar commands.

Excessive barking.

Pawing of the ears or evidence of itchy or painful ears.

Smelly discharge from the ears.

In the US and some other countries, there are deaf dog rescue groups that find homes for these special needs pets, such as Deaf Dogs Rock and others that are committed to working with these animals. In their opinion, deaf dogs make amazing pets. They are not harder to train, just different and will make you a better owner.If you do not believe that, check out Angeline, a deaf dog that has moves! Click on Angeline’s picture (left) for an amazing video of a deaf dog that performs.

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Robert M. Traynor, Ed.D., MBA is the CEO and practicing audiologist at Audiology Associates, Inc., in Greeley, Colorado with particular emphasis in amplification and operative monitoring, offering all general audiological services to patients of all ages. Dr. Traynor holds degrees from the University of Northern Colorado (BA, 1972, MA 1973, Ed.D., 1975), the University of Phoenix (MBA, 2006) as well as Post Doctoral Study at Northwestern University (1984). He taught Audiology at the University of Northern Colorado (1973-1982), University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1976-77) and Colorado State University (1982-1993). Dr. Traynor is a retired Lt. Colonel from the US Army Reserve Medical Service Corps and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Audiology at the University of Florida, the University of Colorado, and the University of Northern Colorado. For 17 years he was Senior International Audiology Consultant to a major hearing instrument manufacturer traveling all over the world providing academic audiological and product orientation for distributors and staff. A clinician and practice manager for over 35 years, Dr. Traynor has lectured on most aspects of the field of Audiology in over 40 countries. Dr. Traynor is the current President of the Colorado Academy of Audiology and co-author of Strategic Practice Management a text used in most universities to train audiologists in practice management, now being updated to a 2nd edition.

1 Comment

Bob, I’ve worked with and trained hunting dogs for many years, never once thought about a dog with hearing problems. Fascinating story. The other side of this story would be of interest. How much better can they hear than a human? I’ve been hunting with my dogs, on a windless day when they go on point. They can’t possibly smell a bird or see them, but they hear them moving in the grass or cover. True story!